Consécration de la France à la Sainte Vierge Marie le 10 Février 1638

Le 10 février, 1638, le Roi Louis français XIII, remercier (en avance) ! la Marie Vierge de la part de se et son royaume pour la naissance d'un héritier royal -- l'avenir Louis XIV -- et prouver sa confiance absolue, fait une promesse de consécration de sa personne, sa famille et France à Notre Dame de la Assomption. Cette promesse a été publiée aussi un décret et une lectures royales que suit :

Louis, par la grâce de Dieu, roi de France et de Navarre, à tous ceux qui ces présentes lettres verront, salut.

Dieu, qui élève les rois au trône de leur grandeur, non content de nous avoir donné l’esprit qu’il départ à tous les princes de la terre pour la conduite de leurs peuples, a voulu prendre un soin si spécial et de notre personne et de notre Etat, que nous ne pouvons considérer le bonheur du cours de notre règne sans y voir autant d’effets merveilleux de sa bonté que d’accidents qui nous menaçaient. Lorsque nous sommes entré au gouvernement de cette couronne, la faiblesse de notre âge donna sujet à quelques mauvais esprits d’en troubler la tranquillité ; mais cette main divine soutint avec tant de force la justice de notre cause que l’on vit en même temps la naissance et la fin de ces pernicieux desseins.

En divers autres temps, l’artifice des hommes et la malice du démon ayant suscité et fomenté des divisions non moins dangereuses pour notre couronne que préjudiciables à notre maison, il lui a plu en détourner le mal avec autant de douceur que de justice ; la rébellion de l’hérésie ayant aussi formé un parti dans l’Etat, qui n’avait d’autre but que de partager notre autorité, il s’est servi de nous pour en abattre l’orgueil, et a permis que nous ayons relevé ses saints autels, en tous les lieux où la violence de cet injuste parti en avait ôté les marques. Si nous avons entrepris la protection de nos alliés, il a donné des succès si heureux à nos armes qu’à la vue de toute l’Europe, contre l’espérance de tout le monde, nous les avons rétablis en la possession de leurs Etats dont ils avaient été dépouillés.

Si les plus grandes forces des ennemis de cette couronne se sont ralliées pour conspirer sa ruine, il a confondu leurs ambitieux desseins, pour faire voir à toutes les nations que, comme sa Providence a fondé cet Etat, sa bonté le conserve, et sa puissance le défend. Tant de grâces si évidentes font que pour n’en différer pas la reconnaissance, sans attendre la paix, qui nous viendra de la même main dont nous les avons reçues, et que nous désirons avec ardeur pour en faire sentir les fruits aux peuples qui nous sont commis, nous avons cru être obligés, nous prosternant aux pieds de sa majesté divine que nous adorons en trois personnes, à ceux de la Sainte Vierge et de la sacrée croix, où nous vénérons l’accomplissement des mystères de notre Rédemption par la vie et la mort du Fils de Dieu en notre chair, de » nous consacrer à la grandeur de Dieu » par son Fils rabaissé jusqu’à nous et à ce Fils par sa mère élevée jusqu’à lui ; en la protection de laquelle nous mettons particulièrement notre personne, notre état, notre couronne et tous nos sujets pour obtenir par ce moyen celle de la Sainte Trinité, par son intercession et de toute la cour céleste par son autorité et exemple, nos mains n’étant pas assez pures pour présenter nos offrandes à la pureté même, nous croyons que celles qui ont été dignes de le porter, les rendront hosties agréables, et c’est chose bien raisonnable qu’ayant été médiatrice de ces bienfaits, elle le soit de nos actions de grâces.

A ces causes, nous avons déclaré et déclarons que, prenant la très sainte et très glorieuse Vierge pour protectrice spéciale de notre royaume, nous lui consacrons particulièrement notre personne, notre état, notre couronne et nos sujets, la suppliant de nous vouloir inspirer une sainte conduite et défendre avec tant de soin ce royaume contre l’effort de tous ses ennemis, que, soit qu’il souffre le fléau de la guerre, ou jouisse de la douceur de la paix que nous demandons à Dieu de tout notre cœur, il ne sorte point des voies de la grâce qui conduisent à celles de la gloire. Et afin que la postérité ne puisse manquer à suivre nos volontés à ce sujet, pour monument et marque immortelle de la consécration présente que nous faisons, nous ferons construire de nouveau le grand autel de l’église cathédrale de Paris, avec une image de la Vierge qui tienne entre ses bras celle de son précieux Fils descendu de la croix ; nous serons représenté aux pieds du Fils et de la Mère, comme leur offrant notre couronne et notre sceptre.

Nous admonestons le sieur Archevêque de Paris, et néanmoins lui enjoignons, que tous les ans, le jour et fête de l’Assomption, il fasse faire commémoration de notre présente Déclaration à la Grande Messe qui se dira en son église cathédrale, et qu’après les Vêpres dudit jour il soit fait une procession en ladite église, à laquelle assisteront toutes les compagnies souveraines, et le corps de la ville, avec pareille cérémonie que celle qui s’observe aux processions générales plus solennelles. Ce que nous voulons aussi être fait en toutes les églises tant paroissiales, que celles des monastères de ladite ville et faubourgs ; et en toutes les villes, bourgs et villages dudit diocèse de Paris.

Exhortons pareillement tous les Archevêques et Evêques de notre royaume, et néanmoins leur enjoignons de faire célébrer la même solennité en leurs églises épiscopales, et autres églises de leurs diocèses ; entendant qu’à ladite cérémonie les cours de parlement, et autres compagnies souveraines, et les principaux officiers des villes y soient présents. Et d’autant qu’il y a plusieurs églises épiscopales qui ne sont point dédiées à la Vierge, nous exhortons lesdits archevêques et évêques en ce cas, de lui dédier la principale chapelle desdites églises, pour y être faite ladite cérémonie ; et d’y élever un autel avec un ornement convenable à une action si célèbre, et d’admonester tous nos peuples d’avoir une dévotion toute particulière à la Vierge, d’implorer en ce jour sa protection, afin que, sous une si puissante patronne, notre royaume soit à couvert de toutes les entreprises de ses ennemis, qu’il jouisse longuement d’une bonne paix ; que Dieu y soit servi et révéré si saintement que nous et nos sujets puissions arriver heureusement à la dernière fin pour laquelle nous avons tous été créés ; car tel est notre bon plaisir.

Donné à Saint-Germain-en-Laye, le dixième jour de février, l’an de grâce mil-six-cent-trente-huit, et de notre règne le vingt-huitième.

Louis

On February 10, 1638, French King Louis XIII, to thank (in advance!) the Virgin Mary on behalf of himself and his kingdom for the birth of a royal heir--the future Louis XIV--and to prove his absolute trust, made a vow of consecration of his person, his family and France to Our Lady of the Assumption. This vow was published as a royal edict and reads as follows (unabridged):

"God who raises kings to their throne of greatness, not being content with imparting us with the spirit befitting all earthly princes for the conduct of their people, wished to take such special care of our person and State that we cannot consider the happiness of our reign without discerning as many wonderful marks of his goodness as there were perilous accidents.

When we entered the government of this crown, the weakness of our age gave license to a few ill spirits to trouble its tranquility; but this divine hand so forcefully supported the justice of our cause that the same day witnessed the beginning and the end of those pernicious designs. On several other occasions, men's artifice and the devil's malice had caused and fomented divisions that were no less dangerous for our crown than prejudicial to the rest of our house, and it pleased God to divert evil from it with as much sweetness as justice. The heretical rebellion also had formed a party in the State, with no other aim than to divide our authority, so God used us to crush its pride, and permitted that we could rebuild his holy altars in all the places where the violence of that unjust party had removed them.

When we set about to protect our allies he gave such happy successes to our arms that in the sight of all of Europe, against the hope of all, we reestablished them in the possession of the States of which they had been deprived. If the greatest forces of this crown's enemies banded together to plot its ruin, He confounded their ambitious plans to show all nations that, since it was his providence which founded this State, his bounty is preserving it and his power defends it.

Taking the most holy and glorious Virgin as the special protectress of our kingdom, we consecrate in a particular way our person, our State, our crown and our subjects

So many evident graces have been received that we do not want to differ our gratitude or to wait for a peace which will come from the same hand who issued them and which we desire ardently, to share its fruits with the peoples we are committed to serve ; thus, bowing at the foot of his divine majesty whom we adore in three persons, before the Blessed Virgin and the sacred cross, where we venerate the accomplishment of the mysteries of our redemption through the life and death of the Son of God in our flesh, we felt compelled to consecrate ourselves to the greatness of God through his Son who lowered himself to us, and to his Son raised up to him by his mother; in whose protection we place in particular our person, State, crown and all our subjects, to obtain thereby the protection of the Holy Trinity, through his intercession and that of the whole heavenly court by his authority and example, since our hands are not pure enough to present our offering to Purity itself, we trust that the hands that were worthy to carry him will make them agreeable hosts; and it seems reasonable to think that she who mediated to obtain for us these benefits will mediate on our behalf to give thanks to God.

To this end, we have declared and we declare that, taking the very holy and glorious Virgin Mary as special protectress of our kingdom, we particularly consecrate to her our own Self, the State, our Crown and our subjects, entreating her to inspire in us a holy conduct and to so diligently defend this kingdom against the endeavors of all its enemies that, whether it suffers the plague of war or enjoys the sweetness of the peace we implore from God from the depth of our heart, it may never depart from the path of grace leading to the path to glory. And so that posterity does not fail to follow our will in the matter, as a monument and immortal sign of the present consecration that we are making, we shall build anew the great altar of the Cathedral of Paris with an image of the Virgin holding in her arms her precious Son descended from the Cross and representing us at the foot of the Son and the Mother as offering to them our crown and our scepter.

We notify the Lord Archbishop of Paris and nevertheless order him that every year, on the feast of the Assumption, he should commemorate our present declaration at High Mass, which will be said in his cathedral church, and that after that day's vespers, a procession should be made within the said church, which will be attended by all the sovereign companies and corps de ville, with the same ceremonials which are observed for the most solemn general processions. We also wish this to be done in all the churches, both in parishes as well as in monasteries of the said town and suburbs, and in all the towns, market towns and villages of the said diocese of Paris.

We similarly exhort the archbishops and bishops of our Kingdom, and nevertheless order them, to have the same solemn celebrations in their Episcopal churches, and others of their dioceses, being understood that at the said ceremony the members of parliament and other sovereign companies, and the principal officers of the towns should be present, and to notify all the people to have a special devotion to the Virgin, on that day to implore her protection, so that, under so powerful a patron, our Kingdom will be protected from all the wiles of our enemies and enjoy a good and lasting peace, that God will be served and revered in such a holy way that we and our subjects may happily reach the final end for which we have all been created, such is our wish."

Given in Saint-Germain-en-Laye, the tenth day of February, in the year of grace one thousand six hundred and thirty eight and the 28th of our Reign.

Louis"

When Louis XIII proclaimed the Vow, Queen Anne of Austria, his wife, was two-month pregnant. On September 5, 1638, she gave birth to a boy who received the name of Louis Dieudonné (God Given), the future Louis XIV. The feast of the Assumption, celebrated on August 15, is officially, since that vow, a French national holiday.

Vive Le Roy!
Jhesu+Marie,
Brantigny

Visualize Psalm 91:4

Psalm 91:4
He will cover you with his feathers.
He will shelter you with his wings.
His faithful promises are your armor and protection

Thanks and a tip of the beret to my daughter Genevieve.

Jhesu+Marie,
Brantigny

Two Princesses, in comparison

...Who is the better off then? Surely, it is the man who will suffer something for God. Many unstable and weak-minded people say: "See how well that man lives, how rich, how great he is, how powerful and mighty." But you must lift up your eyes to the riches of heaven and realize that the material goods of which they speak are nothing. These things are uncertain and very burdensome because they are never possessed without anxiety and fear. Man's happiness does not consist in the possession of abundant goods; a very little is enough... Thomas A Kempis, Imitation of Christ

This morning I listened to a morning radio program make a comparison between Michelle Obama and Marie-Antoinette. My stomach turned abit as I heard yet once again to the calumies of the French revolution plied against the Queen Martyr. Michelle Obama is not even a shadow of the woman that was Marie-Antoinette.

I have not done all the research I possibly could have on Marie-Antoinette. For that I rely on the writings of others, primarily those of Elena-Maria Vidal and her works on the Queen Martyr. I have lived in the time of Diana. Others have presented the contrast between Saint Teresa of Calcutta and Diana. I present a contrast between two princesses, one English the other Austrian by birth, French by choice.

In this day I can still see the heartbreak, tears, wringing of hands as the British people come to grips with the death of Diana. Her sons Harry and William have kept alive the memory of their mother in the minds of the people of Great Britain and the world at large. Films have been made to memorialize and lionize her. At her recent memorial, the famous attended and the not so famous watched on in awe as the Diana's life was recounted. The media was fueled with reports of her death; Was it a plot by MI-5, the Queen, or Charles to have the rebellious princess removed and thereby clear the way for Charles to remarry? Was Diana pregnant with Dodi Fayed's baby? Was the driver drunk? Were the paparazzi to blame? ...And on and on and on. The conspiracy theorists point out that since there is no evidence of a conspiracy there must in fact have been a conspiracy. (?)

What exactly did Diana do for the British? As a royal in a constitutional Britain her only real job was to look pretty for the camera, smile, say some witty thing and go on to the next media event. While I am sure that she did in fact feel sorrow and pity over the sick children she visited, her appearances in at church and in prayer were less frequently photographed. In her desire to end misery she attempted to ban land mines, but was thwarted because it that is unverifiable, but it was such a nice thing to do and it is the thought that counts.

Frankly one could get sickened by the coverage of the media slobbering over every new shopping event, the dress she was wearing, who did her hair and how thin she looked. Any amount of money spent was a pittance compared to how she looked and presented herself on camera. No one ever to my knowledge mentioned how her mostly unlimited funds were being spent. She was the darling of the media, and because of that the people were thrilled. In their eyes she could make no mistakes. When the stories of the Princess's and Prince of Wales infidelities were made public, she was pitied. "Of course HE drove her to do it". The stories, mostly true, where and still are the talk of newspaper, scandal sheets in supermarkets, and late night talk shows. There seems to be no shame in anything she did. I will repeat, "no shame". Infidelity, expensive vacations, clothes all alluded by a sycophant press and people as her right.

Contrast that with the Queen martyr, Marie-Antoinette. Married at 14 in a land far from home, demeaned and insulted at every turn by Madame du Berry, (the kings Louis XV's mistress). Marie-Antoinette was in her youth full of exuberance, but exuberance tempered by piety, and Christian Charity. Which child at 14 does not have exuberance, Joie-de-vivre? In her youth she gambled as did almost everyone during the period, and while her debts were sometimes huge the king never failed to make them good. As the finances of the Kingdom worsened by aid to the American rebels, she tightened her expenditures and retreated into the bosom of her family. A refuge in times of trouble. In a later time she would come to have 4 children, two of which she would bury, her first born and her last born, breaking her heart. Only a mother can know the loss of a child and feel the loss as profoundly and utterly as she did. To lose two was only more intense in heartache. Yet every type of calumny was heaped upon her by foes whom she did not know, when reply would have been beneath her dignity. Her friendship with Count Fersen, was expanded by popular imagination to a love affair. The affair of the necklace used by her enemies to expose their so called extravagances, was a lie heaped upon a lie. Compare that to Diana who went on TV to "confess" her dalliances.

During the terror she watched as her loyal friends were taken from her one by one and killed for no better reason than they were her friends. They could have denounced her and saved their lives but they did not. True friends do not abandon. She watched as her only love and husband was taken and unjustly murdered.

Her own trial was contrived by the committee to include such vile and contemptible charges that to this day one must get special permission from the French Government to read the largely pornographic charges used to martyr her. Imagine her feelings as she was led away to her death. She must have felt a pang of pain knowing that her last two children were left to the mercy of the mob. She arrived at her death, beaten but not cowed. She was secure in the knowledge that she was going to God. In His Hands she placed her soul and arrived bathed in the odor of sanctity.

Little do people realize that Princess Diana died with in sight of where Marie-Antoinette died.

Now that I think on it, I was mistaken, there is no real comparison.

Not in the princesses, certainly not in the people.

Much thanks to Mdm Elena Maria Vidal, whose book Trianon inspired this article.

Jhesu+Marie,
Brantigny

The fate of the Gunpowder Plotters

Treason is an ugly word. It is even more so when it is applied to those who are sentenced to die for it. Stephanie A. Mann relates in her blog entry today...

...Sir Everard Digby, Robert Wintour, John Grant, and Thomas Bates, four of the surviving Gunpowder Plotters were executed in St. Paul's Churchyard on January 30, 1606. They and the other conspirators had been tried on January 27th in Westminster Hall... go to the link above to read the rest.

Jheus+Marie,
Brantigny

Told you so.

To those Catholic who voted for Obama in 2008, you have made a dance with the devil my question is this? Do you feel justified or betrayed?

Jhesu+Marie,
Brantigny

We will not comply...

In a letter vaguly reminiscent of the reply of Captain Durler to the mob at the Tuilleries, the Bishops of the United States were asked to have read this letter... (this one was personalized by Alexander K. Sample, Bishop of Marquette).

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

I write to you concerning an alarming and serious matter that negatively impacts the Church in the United States directly, and that strikes at the fundamental right to religious liberty for all citizens of any faith. The federal government, which claims to be “of, by, and for the people,” has just been dealt a heavy blow to almost a quarter of those people — the Catholic population — and to the millions more who are served by the Catholic faithful.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced last week that almost all employers, including Catholic employers, will be forced to offer their employees’ health coverage that includes sterilization, abortion-inducing drugs, and contraception. Almost all health insurers will be forced to include those “services” in the health policies they write. And almost all individuals will be forced to buy that coverage as a part of their policies.

In so ruling, the Obama Administration has cast aside the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States, denying to Catholics our Nation’s first and most fundamental freedom, that of religious liberty. And as a result, unless the rule is overturned, we Catholics will be compelled to either violate our consciences, or to drop health coverage for our employees (and suffer the penalties for doing so). The Obama Administration’s sole concession was to give our institutions one year to comply.

We cannot—we will not—comply with this unjust law. People of faith cannot be made second class citizens. We are already joined by our brothers and sisters of all faiths and many others of good will in this important effort to regain our religious freedom. Our parents and grandparents did not come to these shores to help build America’s cities and towns, its infrastructure and institutions, its enterprise and culture, only to have their posterity stripped of their God given rights. In generations past, the Church has always been able to count on the faithful to stand up and protect her sacred rights and duties. I hope and trust she can count on this generation of Catholics to do the same. Our children and grandchildren deserve nothing less.

And therefore, I would ask of you two things. First, as a community of faith we must commit ourselves to prayer and fasting that wisdom and justice may prevail, and religious liberty may be restored. Without God, we can do nothing; with God, nothing is impossible. Second, I would also recommend visiting www.usccb.org/conscience,to learn more about this severe assault on religious liberty, and how to contact Congress in support of legislation that would reverse the Obama Administration’s decision.

Sincerely yours in Christ,
+Alexander K. Sample
Most Reverend Alexander K. Sample
Bishop of Marquette

As in 1792 the fight has just started. It is unfortunate that this Bishop and the other Bishops who had this letter read relies on law, “of, by, and for the people,”.
Laws made by men are fleeting, "...and change like the inconstant moon, that monthly changes in her circled orb". It is Gods law by which men need to present themsleves. Reliance on a government's laws are foolish. It was by man's law that abortion was "found" to be in the constitution and declared constitutional by a court meant to uphold the law, “of, by, and for the people,”. If a case can be found to allow abortion, (er "a womans right to choose") in the constitution by what guarentee can we expect that a consitutional mandate will not be found that requires abortion?

Religious Liberty will not be restored until we stand up and prepare ourselves to be marytred for the faith.

Be prepared the time will come when you will have to make the choice, Catholic for God, or man for state.

Jhesu+Marie,
Brantigny

300,000 Ninjas Stealthily March Past Reporters During the 39th Annual March for Life

A stealth march.

300,000 Ninjas Stealthily March Past Reporters During the 39th Annual March for Life

...However mere "thousands" were spotted - and deemed unimportant

One would think that even 10,000 people marching on our nation's capitol any weekend during the summer would be picked up by the Major Media. The newshounds seem to love a good march whenever it comes up. The Occupy Wall Street protesters, for example, started with a mere 1,000 marchers before being picked up by the news, who followed the movement for months. The highest estimates place the total number of protestors around 30,000 and they received worldwide coverage.

This past Monday, in nearly freezing temperatures and rain, an estimated 300,000-400,000 protestors marched through the streets of Washington D.C. up to the Capitol steps - and went largely unnoticed. Though the March for Life has occured annually for 39 years and consistently had numbers over 250,000 every year since 2003, The New York Times never even mentioned it. No story, no pictures - it didn't happen if you're a Times reader. In fact, it hasn't even had a mention in 5 years.

Those news sources that did actually run a story, had headlines such as, "Thousands March to Protest Roe" and give the opposition the final word:

Nancy Keenan, president of NARAL Pro-Choice America, said in a statement that politicians supporting the March for Life were ignoring more pressing issues.

"Anti-choice politicians and their allies promised to focus on creating jobs, yet they are attacking a woman's right to choose at near-record levels," Keenan said.

"Near-record levels" is quite true, though you wouldn't know it from the way the Major Media tells the story.

So easy to miss, in fact, that CBS "didn't get a single photograph of pro-life protestors".

If you'd like to see a rather entertaining viewpoint that seemed to be largely missed, then

Please enjoy this 4-minute video that highlights a few actual protesters:


C/O James Battle

Shouldn't be suprised, these same reporters missed everything during the Clinton administration, missed the fact that we haven't had a budget in 1000 days, the connection between the administration and "Fast and Furious. The "mainstream media" are getting to be more and more a bog.

Jhesu+Marie,
Brantigny

Eventually they won't be able to ignore the Pro-life movement.

Requiem pour Notre Bon Roy Louis XVI

Dieu Savez le Roy!

Jhesu+Marie,
Brantigny

St Louis IX, King on Keeping a Vow

A vow is a promise* to God. King Louis IX knew this and demonstrated this to his subjects in a way they did not expect...

Jean Sieur de Joinville relates:

"...The Queen Mother and the Bishop of Paris (Guillaume d'Auvergne), as well as many of the nobles, tried hard to persuade Louis to give up his proposed Crusade and apply to the Pope for a dispensation. The Bishop was most insistent, urging that when Louis took the Cross he was still weak from sickness and not in possession of his faculties; he urged as political dangers the power of Emperor Frederick and the "deceitful coin " of the King of England, the treachery of the Poitevins, the heresies of the Albigenses: "Germany is disturbed; Italy is not at rest; in front the road to the Holy Land is blocked; behind is the inexorable hate of Frederick and the Pope; implacable feuds: to all this you leave us."

Said the Queen Mother: " Remember, my son, that God loves obedient children. Stay till thou canst go with a larger army; God is no caviller(1); thy excuse is that thy senses were dazed and thy wits wandering."

To this the King replied, " You say that weakness of wit was the cause of my taking the Cross; lo, then, since you desire it, here I lay down the Cross, I resign it to you," and putting his hand to his shoulder he tore off the badge and presented it to the Archbishop. At this there was a buzz of applause and congratulation from all who sat round. Then said the King, and his voice and face changed, " My friends, you agree now, do you not, that I am in full possession of my senses? that now at any rate I am sane in mind and body? Give me back then my Cross. For He who knows all things knows that no food shall pass my lips until my Cross is restored to me."

And when they that stood round heard this, they declared: " This was the finger of God." ...

Dieu le Roy,
Brantigny

*As opposed to a oath which ask God to witness. Breaking both is a serious offense to God. Example, marriage "vows" are not made to each other but to God, promising to Love, Cherish, and honour each other. This is why it is so important to make these vows in the presence of a Priest, or Deacon.

An example of a bad vow is Scarlett O'hara vowing to never be hungry again. One cannot state a vow for something over which one does not have control.

(1) Caviller, A quibler, someone who raises annoying petty objections.

Indiana school voucher law upheld by county judge

Criterion staff report

A Marion County Superior Court judge has ruled that the Indiana school voucher program is constitutional—a ruling that means the nearly 4,000 students who benefit from the state’s school choice program can continue to attend non-public schools with state funds.

In his ruling on Jan. 13, Judge Michael Keele upheld the new program that went into effect for the 2011-12 school year. The judge stated that the voucher system is designed to benefit students and their families—not private, religious schools— because the money is given directly to the students’ families.

“This Court therefore concludes that the degree of religiosity of the participating schools is immaterial to the case at hand,” Keele noted. He added that the Choice Scholarship Program “bestows benefits onto scholarship recipients who may then choose to use the funding for education at a public, secular private or religious school.”

Keele made his ruling in response to a lawsuit that was filed in July by opponents of the program. Opponents, which included teachers and school officials of public schools, argued that the voucher program was unconstitutional because it improperly benefited private, religious schools.

Opponents of the voucher program said they plan to appeal Judge Keele’s decision. Advocates of the program applauded his ruling.

“This is a huge victory,” noted John Elcesser, executive director of the Indiana Non-Public Education Association, in a Jan. 13 statement. “It means that the nearly 4,000 low-and-middle-income children in Indiana who are participating in the program can continue to attend a high quality, non-public school using public funds.”

The judge’s ruling was also praised by Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller, whose office represented the state in the case.

In a news release on Jan. 13, Zoeller said the voucher program “followed the Indiana Constitution in creating broader educational options for Hoosier children since the scholarship funding is directed to students’ families, not to private schools.” †

We can winn the fight against liberal government. This article gives me hope.

Jhesu+Marie,
Brantigny